Bulgaria to Hold Snap Parliamentary Election on April 19

Bulgaria Announces Snap Parliamentary Election

President Iliana Iotova has announced that Bulgaria will hold a snap parliamentary election on April 19. The announcement comes after the resignation of the previous government in December, following weeks of protests over budget and alleged corruption.

Iotova made the statement during a news conference on Wednesday, where she also introduced Andrey Gyurov, deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, as the head of a caretaker government tasked with preparing for the election. The caretaker government will oversee the electoral process.

Bulgaria has experienced prolonged political instability in recent years, with parties struggling to form stable ruling coalitions in the fragmented parliament. The country joined the eurozone on January 1 and has held seven parliamentary elections since 2017.

The upcoming election is expected to be the eighth in just five years. In the most recent election in 2024, the conservative GERB party formed a coalition government. However, protests over the 2026 draft budget led to widespread demonstrations, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability.

Last month, President Rumen Radev announced his resignation amid speculation that he would participate in the upcoming elections. He was replaced by Iotova, who will also seek re-election later this year. New presidential elections are expected to take place later this year.

Source: Al Jazeera